Viktor Kassai - Football referee
Viktor Kassai is a well-respected former football referee from Hungary. He was born on September 10, 1975, in Tatabánya, Hungary. Known for his calmness under pressure and efficient decision-making, Kassai officiated numerous high-stakes matches in both domestic and international football during his career.
Kassai began his refereeing career in the Hungarian League and was eventually promoted to the Nemzeti Bajnokság I, the top tier of Hungarian football, in 1999. His standout performances at the domestic level caught the attention of international football authorities, and he was added to the FIFA International Referees List in 2003, which allowed him to officiate international fixtures.
Kassai's international career is distinguished by his appointments to several major tournaments. He officiated matches in the UEFA European Championship in 2008 and 2012, as well as the FIFA World Cup in 2010. Notably, he was selected to referee the final of the 2011 UEFA Champions League between Barcelona and Manchester United, becoming the first Hungarian to referee a Champions League final since Sándor Puhl in 1997.
Throughout his career, Kassai was lauded for his command of the game, his understanding of football's laws, and his ability to communicate effectively with players. He was known for letting the game flow, preferring to use his cards sparingly.
In 2019, Kassai made the transition from field officiating to video assistant refereeing (VAR), becoming the head of the VAR project in the Hungarian football league. He officially retired from on-field refereeing in 2020 but has remained involved in football through his VAR work.
Kassai has also made contributions to the sport outside of officiating. He serves as the head of the Referee’s Technical Committee for the Hungarian Football Federation, where he's involved in the training and development of Hungarian referees.
| Champions League 2019 - 2020 | ||||
| Group Stage | Atlético de Madrid | Lokomotiv Moskva | 2019-12-11 | 2-0 |
| Euro 2020 qualifiers | ||||
| Spain | Malta | 2019-11-15 | 7-0 | |
| Poland | Austria | 2019-09-09 | 0-0 | |
| Europa League 2019 - 2020 | ||||
| Play-offs | Partizan | Molde | 2019-08-22 | 2-1 |
| Champions League 2018 - 2019 | ||||
| group stage | Manchester City | Shakhtar | 2018-11-07 | 6 - 0 |
| group stage | Napoli | Liverpool | 2018-10-03 | 1 - 0 |
| UEFA Nations League 2018-2019 - League C | ||||
| Albania | Israel | 2018-09-07 | 1 - 0 | |
| Europa League 2018 - 2019 | ||||
| round of 32 | Betis | Rennes | 2019-02-21 | 1 - 3 |
| play-offs | Burnley | Olympiakos | 2018-08-30 | 1 - 1 |
| Champions League 2017 - 2018 | ||||
| group stage | Leipzig SC | Besiktas | 2017-12-06 | 1 - 2 |
| group stage | Maribor | Liverpool | 2017-10-17 | 0 - 7 |
| group stage | Olympiakos | Sporting | 2017-09-12 | 2 - 3 |
| Europa League 2017 - 2018 | ||||
| round of 32 | Lyon | Villarreal | 2018-02-15 | 3 - 1 |
| play-off | Club Brugge | AEK | 2017-08-17 | 0 - 0 |
| WC 2017 u20 | ||||
| group stage | Guinea u20 | Argentina u20 | 2017-05-26 | 0 - 5 |
| group stage | Saudi Arabia u20 | Senegal u20 | 2017-05-22 | 0 - 2 |
| Club World Cup 2016 | ||||
| 1/2 final | Atlético Nacional | Kashima Antlers | 2016-12-14 | 0 - 3 |
| 1/4 finals | Jeonbuk Hyundai | América | 2016-12-11 | 1 - 2 |
| Champions League 2016 - 2017 | ||||
| 1/4 finals | Real Madrid | Bayern Munich | 2017-04-18 | 4 - 2 |
| group stage | Manchester City | Barcelona | 2016-11-01 | 3 - 1 |
| group stage | PSG | Arsenal | 2016-09-13 | 1 - 1 |
| WC 2018 qualifiers - Europe | ||||
| Turkey | Croatia | 2017-09-05 | 1 - 0 | |
| Montenegro | Poland | 2017-03-26 | 1 - 2 | |
| Serbia | Ireland | 2016-09-05 | 2 - 2 | |
| Europa League 2016 - 2017 | ||||
| 1/8 finals | AS Roma | Lyon | 2017-03-16 | 2 - 1 |
| group stage | Athletic Bilbao | Sassuolo | 2016-11-24 | 3 - 2 |
| play-off | Maribor | Qabala | 2016-08-25 | 1 - 0 |
| Euro 2016 | ||||
| 1/4 finals | Germany | Italy | 2016-07-02 | 1 - 1 |
| group stage | Italy | Sweden | 2016-06-17 | 1 - 0 |
| group stage | France | Romania | 2016-06-10 | 2 - 1 |
| Europa League 2015 - 2016 | ||||
| 1/2 final | Liverpool | Villarreal | 2016-05-05 | 3 - 0 |
| Champions League 2015 - 2016 | ||||
| 1/4 finals | Real Madrid | Wolfsburg | 2016-04-12 | 3 - 0 |
| 1/8 finals | Zenit | Benfica | 2016-03-09 | 1 - 2 |
| group stage | Arsenal | Dinamo Zagreb | 2015-11-24 | 3 - 0 |
| group stage | Leverkusen | AS Roma | 2015-10-20 | 4 - 4 |
| group stage | Manchester United | Wolfsburg | 2015-09-30 | 2 - 1 |
| play-offs | Astana | APOEL | 2015-08-18 | 1 - 0 |
| Euro 2016 qualifiers | ||||
| Scotland | Poland | 2015-10-08 | 2 - 2 | |
| Norway | Croatia | 2015-09-06 | 2 - 0 | |
| Albania | Denmark | 2014-10-11 | 1 - 1 | |
| Europa League 2014 - 2015 | ||||
| group stage | Trabzonspor | Legia Warszawa | 2014-10-02 | 0 - 1 |
| Champions League 2014 - 2015 | ||||
| group stage | Arsenal | Dortmund | 2014-11-26 | 2 - 0 |
| group stage | Real Madrid | Liverpool | 2014-11-04 | 1 - 0 |
| play-offs | Celtic | Maribor | 2014-08-26 | 0 - 1 |
| WC 2014 qualifiers Playoffs | ||||
| Mexico | New Zealand | 2013-11-13 | 5 - 1 | |
| Champions League 2013 - 2014 | ||||
| round of 16 | Leverkusen | PSG | 2014-02-18 | 0 - 4 |
| group stage | Napoli | Arsenal | 2013-12-11 | 2 - 0 |
| group stage | Schalke 04 | Chelsea F.C. | 2013-10-22 | 0 - 3 |
| group stage | Juventus | Galatasaray | 2013-10-02 | 2 - 2 |
| Europa League 2013 - 2014 | ||||
| 1/4 finals | Valencia | Basel | 2014-04-10 | 5 - 0 |
| play-offs | Nice | Apollon | 2013-08-29 | 1 - 0 |
| WC 2013 u20 | ||||
| group stage | Uzbekistan u20 | Uruguay u20 | 2013-06-29 | 0 - 4 |
| group stage | Cuba u20 | Nigeria u20 | 2013-06-24 | 0 - 3 |
| Europa League 2012 - 2013 | ||||
| round of 32 | Plzen | Napoli | 2013-02-21 | 2 - 0 |
| Gulf Cup 2013 | ||||
| group stage | Bahrain | Qatar | 2013-01-11 | 1 - 0 |
| group stage | Saudi Arabia | Iraq | 2013-01-06 | 0 - 2 |
| WC 2014 qualifiers - Europe | ||||
| Bulgaria | Czech Republic | 2013-10-15 | 0 - 1 | |
| France | Spain | 2013-03-26 | 0 - 1 | |
| Russia | Portugal | 2012-10-12 | 1 - 0 | |
| Champions League 2012 - 2013 | ||||
| 1/2 final | Bayern Munich | Barcelona | 2013-04-23 | 4 - 0 |
| round of 16 | Barcelona | AC Milan | 2013-03-12 | 4 - 0 |
| group stage | Benfica | Celtic | 2012-11-20 | 2 - 1 |
| group stage | Dortmund | Real Madrid | 2012-10-24 | 2 - 1 |
| group stage | Anderlecht | Malaga | 2012-10-03 | 0 - 3 |
| play-offs | Kiryat Shmona | BATE | 2012-08-28 | 1 - 1 |
| Euro 2012 | ||||
| group stage | England | Ukraine | 2012-06-19 | 1 - 0 |
| group stage | Spain | Italy | 2012-06-10 | 1 - 1 |
| Europa League 2011 - 2012 | ||||
| round of 16 | Schalke 04 | Twente | 2012-03-15 | 4 - 1 |
| Champions League 2011-2012 | ||||
| 1/2 finals | Real Madrid | Bayern Munich | 2012-04-25 | 2 - 1 |
| round of 16 | AC Milan | Arsenal | 2012-02-15 | 4 - 0 |
| group stage | Leverkusen | Chelsea F.C. | 2011-11-23 | 2 - 1 |
| group stage | Basel | Benfica | 2011-10-18 | 0 - 2 |
| group stage | Bayern Munich | Manchester City | 2011-09-27 | 2 - 0 |
| qualifiers (play-offs) | APOEL | Wisla Krakow | 2011-08-23 | 3 - 1 |
| Europa League 2010 - 2011 | ||||
| 1/4 finals | Spartak Moskva | Porto | 2011-04-14 | 2 - 5 |
| Champions League 2010-2011 | ||||
| final | Barcelona | Manchester United | 2011-05-28 | 3 - 1 |
| round of 16 | Internazionale | Bayern Munich | 2011-02-23 | 0 - 1 |
| group stage | Braga | Arsenal | 2010-11-23 | 2 - 0 |
| group stage | Tottenham Hotspur | Internazionale | 2010-11-02 | 3 - 1 |
| group stage | Valencia | Manchester United | 2010-09-29 | 0 - 1 |
| Euro 2012 qualifiers | ||||
| play-offs | Estonia | Ireland | 2011-11-11 | 0 - 4 |
| Belarus | Bosnia-Herzegovina | 2011-09-02 | 0 - 2 | |
| Spain | Czech Republic | 2011-03-25 | 2 - 1 | |
| England | Bulgaria | 2010-09-03 | 4 - 0 | |
| Champions League 2010-2011 qualifiers | ||||
| play-offs | Sampdoria | Werder Bremen | 2010-08-24 | 3 - 2 |
| WC 2010 | ||||
| 1/2 finals | Germany | Spain | 2010-07-07 | 0 - 1 |
| round of 16 | USA | Ghana | 2010-06-26 | 1 - 2 |
| group stage | Mexico | Uruguay | 2010-06-22 | 0 - 1 |
| Europa League 2009 - 2010 | ||||
| 1/4 finals | Wolfsburg | Fulham | 2010-04-08 | 0 - 1 |
| WC 2009 u17 | ||||
| 1/4 finals | Switzerland u17 | Italy u17 | 2009-11-08 | 2 - 1 |
| group stage | Uruguay u17 | Algeria u17 | 2009-10-29 | 2 - 0 |
| group stage | Spain u17 | USA u17 | 2009-10-26 | 2 - 1 |
| WC 2010 qualifiers - Asia | ||||
| Bahrain | New Zealand | 2009-10-10 | 0 - 0 | |
| WC 2010 qualifiers Playoffs | ||||
| Bahrain | New Zealand | 2009-10-10 | 0 - 0 | |
| Champions League 2009-2010 | ||||
| round of 16 | Sevilla FC | CSKA Moskva | 2010-03-16 | 1 - 2 |
| group stage | VfB Stuttgart | Unirea Urziceni | 2009-12-09 | 3 - 1 |
| group stage | Manchester United | Wolfsburg | 2009-09-30 | 2 - 1 |
| group stage | Olympiakos | AZ | 2009-09-16 | 1 - 0 |
| play-offs | Sporting | Fiorentina | 2009-08-18 | 2 - 2 |
| UEFA Cup 2008 - 2009 | ||||
| round of 16 | Hamburger SV | Galatasaray | 2009-03-12 | 1 - 1 |
| Champions League 2008-2009 | ||||
| group stage | Fiorentina | Lyon | 2008-11-25 | 1 - 2 |
| group stage | Werder Bremen | Panathinaikos | 2008-11-04 | 0 - 3 |
| group stage | Villarreal | Celtic | 2008-09-30 | 1 - 0 |
| WC 2010 qualifiers - Europe | ||||
| Belarus | Ukraine | 2009-09-09 | 0 - 0 | |
| Finland | Germany | 2008-09-10 | 3 - 3 | |
| Olympic Games 2008 | ||||
| final | Nigeria OT | Argentina OT | 2008-08-23 | 0 - 1 |
| group stage | Argentina OT | Australia OT | 2008-08-10 | 1 - 0 |
| UEFA Cup 2007 - 2008 | ||||
| round of 16 | Getafe | Benfica | 2008-03-12 | 1 - 0 |
| 1st round | Aris Thessaloniki | Real Zaragoza | 2007-09-20 | 1 - 0 |
| Champions League 2007-2008 | ||||
| group stage | Slavia | Sevilla FC | 2007-12-12 | 0 - 3 |
| group stage | Dynamo Kyiv | Manchester United | 2007-10-23 | 2 - 4 |
| qualifiers 3rd round | Benfica | Kobenhavn | 2007-08-14 | 2 - 1 |
| WC 2007 u20 | ||||
| group stage | Argentina u20 | Korea DPR u20 | 2007-07-06 | 1 - 0 |
| group stage | Brazil u20 | Korea Republic u20 | 2007-07-03 | 3 - 2 |
| round of 16 | Mexico u20 | Congo DR u20 | 2007-06-12 | 3 - 0 |
| Euro 2008 qualifiers | ||||
| France | Lithuania | 2007-10-17 | 2 - 0 | |
| Finland | Kazakhstan | 2007-08-22 | 2 - 1 | |
| Estonia | Croatia | 2007-06-02 | 0 - 1 | |
| Belarus | Slovenia | 2006-10-11 | 4 - 2 | |
| UEFA Cup 2006 - 2007 | ||||
| round of 16 | Sevilla FC | Shakhtar | 2007-03-08 | 2 - 2 |
| group stage | Wisla Krakow | Basel | 2006-11-30 | 3 - 1 |
| 1st round | Austria Kärnten | Livorno | 2006-09-28 | 0 - 1 |
| 1st round | Hertha BSC | OB | 2006-09-14 | 2 - 2 |
| Euro 2007 u21 qualifiers | ||||
| Croatia u21 | Ukraine u21 | 2006-09-06 | 1 - 2 | |
| Champions League 2006-2007 | ||||
| qualifiers 2nd round | Siroki Brijeg | Hearts | 2006-08-02 | 0 - 0 |
| Euro 2006 u19 qualifiers | ||||
| Greece u19 | Germany u19 | 2005-10-17 | 2 - 3 | |
| Netherlands u19 | Greece u19 | 2005-10-14 | 2 - 3 | |
| UEFA Cup 2005 - 2006 | ||||
| group stage | Maccabi Petach-Tikva | Lokomotiv Moskva | 2005-11-30 | 0 - 4 |
| 1st round | APOEL | Hertha BSC | 2005-09-15 | 0 - 1 |
| Champions League 2005-2006 | ||||
| qualifiers 2nd round | Neftchi Baku | Anderlecht | 2005-08-03 | 1 - 0 |
| Euro 2005 u19 | ||||
| 1/2 finals | Serbia and Montenegro u19 | England u19 | 2005-07-26 | 1 - 3 |
| group stage | Armenia u19 | England u19 | 2005-07-20 | 1 - 1 |
| group stage | Northern Ireland u19 | Greece u19 | 2005-07-18 | 0 - 1 |
| Intertoto 2005 | ||||
| 2nd round | Hamburger SV | Pobeda | 2005-07-02 | 4 - 1 |
| WC 2006 qualifiers - Europe | ||||
| Lithuania | Bosnia-Herzegovina | 2005-09-07 | 0 - 1 | |
| Kazakhstan | Turkey | 2005-06-08 | 0 - 6 | |
| Slovakia | Luxembourg | 2004-08-18 | 3 - 1 | |
| Euro 2006 u21 qualifiers | ||||
| Greece u21 | Turkey u21 | 2004-09-07 | 2 - 1 | |
| Champions League 2004-2005 | ||||
| qualifiers 2nd round | Hajduk | Shelbourne | 2004-07-28 | 3 - 2 |
| friendly | ||||
| Austria | Brazil | 2018-06-10 | 0 - 3 | |
| Belgium | Portugal | 2018-06-02 | 0 - 0 | |
| Russia | Korea Republic | 2017-10-07 | 4 - 2 | |
| Belgium | Tunisia | 2014-06-07 | 1 - 0 | |
| England | Peru | 2014-05-30 | 3 - 0 | |
| Ireland | Serbia | 2014-03-05 | 1 - 2 | |
| Sweden | Brazil | 2012-08-15 | 0 - 3 | |
| Romania | Uruguay | 2012-02-29 | 1 - 1 | |
| Germany | Brazil | 2011-08-10 | 3 - 2 | |
| Netherlands | Turkey | 2010-11-17 | 1 - 0 | |
| Austria | Sweden | 2009-02-11 | 0 - 2 | |
| Portugal | England | 2004-02-18 | 1 - 1 | |
| UEFA Cup 2003 - 2004 | ||||
| 1st round | Molde | Leiria | 2003-10-15 | 3 - 1 |
| qualifiers | Kamen Ingrad | Etzella Ettelbruck | 2003-08-28 | 7 - 0 |
| friendly tournament | ||||
| Russia | Yugolsavia | 2002-05-19 | 1 - 1 | |
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